It’s hard to believe, but we’re in the fall season with no real end in sight of the pandemic. This means many of us are likely still working from home while simultaneously managing the stressors of daily life. Do you find yourself clenching your teeth in stress? It can cause serious issues!
What is “TMJ”?
The temporomandibular joint is a hinge joint that allows us to talk and chew. It connects your jaw (the mandible) to your skull (the temporal bone) on both sides of your face. You may have heard someone say, “Oh, I have TMJ” referring to a type of jaw problem. This isn’t an entirely accurate statement, as we all have temporomandibular joints! When it doesn’t work properly or you have pain, we refer to it as temporomandibular disorder.
What are the symptoms of a TMJ disorder?
The most common symptom is pain in or around the ear, clicking or locking in the joint, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth. You may even feel like your face hurts. There is a strong muscle that helps you chew, called the masseter. It too can be a source of pain and may be tender when you touch the side of your face.
What causes TMJ?
Pain is a complex mechanism, and most of the time, there isn’t one particular cause. It may be stress related, it may be due to teeth grinding at night, or it may be as simple as resting your head on your hand for hours at a time when working at your desk. Like any joint, the TMJ may have arthritis, or the disc that keeps the joint moving smoothly may have eroded or slipped out of alignment.
Most of the time, jaw pain has an unclear etiology.
What can be done about TMJ pain?
Jaw pain can come unprovoked, linger for a few days, and then resolve on its own. If this happens to you, give it two or three days before worrying to much. The best self-treatment is to gently open and close your mouth to keep it mobile. You can also take the tip of a finger and gently bite down. Mild to moderate pain with this is okay, and it should get better.
However, if your jaw pain does not resolve within a few days, see a dentist or a physical therapist. There may be other issues at play and getting them resolved is important to preventing a chronic problem. Doing a simple internet search would have you believe that you need to get CT scans or an MRI, but a conservative approach is often most helpful and effective.
Peak Form is here to help! Call us today to see a physical therapist for your aches and pains!